Pekin 1, Limestone 0

BARTONVILLE - Pekin's soccer team broke a two-match losing streak and beat Limestone 1-0 on Friday in Bartonville In the process, freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Cofey earned her first career shutout.

The only goal of the game came 10 minutes in. Senior Jeleighsa Hamilton beat two Rocket defenders down the right side and crossed the ball into the goal box. In the melee that followed, Shelly Morris kicked the ball toward the right corner and Chelsea Leaver finished it off for her first goal of the season.

"Chelsea has had quite a week," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "She played a great game at Notre Dame and she got the only goal against Limestone. I think the team feeds off of her intensity and she set the tone right away."

Sandoval also credited his defenders - Karis Parkin, Amanda Miller, Jessica Allen and Bryn Golden.

"This was probably our best defensive effort of the season," he said. "We held them to one shot on goal on a free kick."

Pekin is now 4-7 on the season.

Notre Dame 7, Pekin 0

League leading Notre Dame scored three times in the first half and four in the second to overwhelm Pekin 7-0 in a Mid-State 6 Conference girls' soccer match Tuesday night.

Katie Pitstick had two goals and Rchel Blakesly and Jenna LaHood added two more goals and four assists for the Irish (13-1, 5-0), who outshot Pekin 25-2 for te contest.

The Dragons next visit Limestone Friday in a non-conference match.

Princeton 4, Pekin 0

PEKIN - Pekin's offense stalled in a 4-0 non-conferenec girls' soccer loss to Princeton Saturday at Coal Miners Park.

Princeton (8-3) had two goals in each half and has now won four matches in a row - outscoring its opponents 15-2 during that stretch.

"Even though the scoreboard didn't really show it, I was really pleased with the defensive effort," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "They challenged every shot and made it difficult for Princeton to get clean looks at the goal. Yes, we made some mistakes which led to scores, but this was a vast improvement over the Bloomington game."

Pekin did not have an official shot on goal. Freshman Lindsay Coffey had 11 saves for the hosts, who travel to Mid-State 6 Conference leader Notre Dame Tuesday night.

Pekin 7, Woodruff 1

PEORIA - Pekin got back on the winning track Thursday, scoring three times in the first 14 minutes en route to a a Mid-State 6 Conference girls soccer victory over host Woodruff.

Breanna Zimmerman had a pair of early goals on assists from Sam Grimes and Jeleighsa Hamilton, with Grimes also connecting on a penalty kick.

"Bree has an incredibly strong shot and we’ve struggled the past few games to find her in good position, " Pekin coach Edgar Snadoval said. "But our midfielders found all the holes in the defense today.”

Senior defender Nicole Richards scored her first goal of the season off a cross from freshman Shelly Morris to give the Dragons a 4-0 halftime lead, and Grimes then found Brittany Wright for her second goal of the year.

Megan Maxwell scored for Woodruff ona free kick before freshman Kayla Milam and Zimmerman netted Pekin's final two goals.

Pekin (3-5, 2-2), which outshot Woodruff 25-3 hots Princeton at 11 a.m Saturday in a non-conference match at Coal Miners Park.

Bloomington 6, Pekin 0

After a two game winning streak, the Pekin Girls Soccer team has now dropped three in a row following Wednesday's 6-0 non-conference loss to Bloomington at Coal Miners Park.

The Purple Raiders dominated the action, scoring all six of thier goals before intermission, two on uncontested corner kicks.

“I can understand losses. What I can’t understand is the way it’s happening, " Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. " We ignored all the basics… even what should have been simple passes were way off the mark. We got caught offsides three times just as we were starting to mount some offense. And we watched while they set up for shots inside the box. You just can’t do that and expect to succeed.”

Bloomington outshot Pekin 24 to 6 with Dragons’ goalkeeper Lindsay Coffey registering 14 saves.

Galesburg 9, Pekin 0

Down five players because of spring break, injury and illness, Pekin lost two more by halftime of Thursday’s 9-0 girls soccer loss at Galesburg.

“To be honest, the first ten minutes of the game were our worst of the year," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "We settled down after that and played fairly well. But by the second half, our girls were just exhausted both physically and mentally. They gave all they had, but in the end, we just didn’t have the bodies to stay competitive."

Pekin managed just four shots on goal to Galesburgs 17. Freshmen goalkeepers Lindsay Coffey and Caitlin Hyatt combined for 10 saves for the Dragons (2-4), who host Bloomington in a non-conference match Wednesday at Coal Miners Park.

Richwoods 4, Pekin 0

PEORIA - Pekin faced strong winds and an even stronger opponent Tuesday as Peoria Richwoods posted a 4-0 Mid-State 6 Conference girls' soccer victory.

Becca Smith led the Knights with two goals, while Rachel Waldschmidt had two assists. While the Dragons offense stalled, it’s defense showed signs of improvement, keeping Richwoods out of the goal for almost the first 20 minutes.

“Having the wind helped in the first half, but our defenders did a really good job of containing several runs, switching and covering when they had to," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "That comes with better communication and I hope we can build on this.”

Freshman goalkeeper Lindsay Coffey stopped nine of Richwoods 13 shots.

Pekin resumes action Thursday with a non-conference matchup at Galesburg.

Pekin 2, Macomb 1

The Pekin Girls Soccer team took to the road for the first time this season and returned home with a 2-1 non-conference girls' soccer victory over Macomb.

The Dragons established themselves right away with several early chances. Freshman midfielder Jakki Johnson broke free at the top of the box at about 13 minutes in and was tripped from behind. Senior captain Sam Grimes converted the penalty kick to put the Dragons up 1-0.

Two minutes later it was Johnson again with a solid cross from the right side. Freshman Shelly Morris leaped high into the air and headed the ball down and hard towards the Bombers goal and off a Macomb defender for the 2-0 lead.

“Jakki played really well tonight. She had several great passes and really forced Macomb to defend her close in their third. Her ability to pass and shoot so well makes her someone that other teams really have to pay attention to. And it‘s great to see Shelly back out there after missing the first two games with an injury. The two of them have played together for a long time and their chemistry is evident.”

Pekin outshot Macomb 15-3 witht he bombers finally getting on board on Andie Cumbie's unassisted goal late in the second half.

Pekin returns to Mid-State 6 conference action today at Peoria Richwoods.

Pekin 6, Central 0

PEKIN - Pekin picked up its first victory of the season with a 6-0 triumph over Peoria Central at Coal Miners Park. The Dragons ended a two game scoreless streak when senior Breanna Zimmerman intercepted an errant Lions pass and stuck a left footed shot in the back of the net just six minutes into the game.
“Since transferring to Pekin, Bre has missed most of her first two seasons with injuries, so to see her do well out there is a thrill for me," Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said.

The score remained 1-0 despite 11 more Pekin shots on goal, until the Dragons exploded for five second half goals in a fifteen minute span. The run started when freshman midfielder Jakki Johnson got free on the left side and snuck a pass to freshman forward Allie Zuercher. Zuercher tapped it home to make it 2-0.

Zimmerman then took a perfect, one touch pass from senior Sam Grimes and converted to make it 3-0. The hosts got goals from senior Brittany Wright and junior Amanda Miller before freshman Kayla Milam found freshman Shelly Morris flying in for the final score.

“It was a great team effort today. Offense, midfield, defense all came together and our freshmen really stepped up and played with great patience up front," Sandoval said. "I think after being picked to finish in last place in conference, the girls wanted to prove something and I think they did.”

Pekin hosts Bloomington in a 4:30 p.m. non-conference match Thursday.

Washington 2, Pekin 0

PEKIN - Pekin managed just five shots on goal ina 2-0 non-conference soccer loss to visiting Washington at Coal Miners Park.

Sophomore midfielder Carrie Bunting scored both goals. She hit the first goal on a pass from senior Ashley Weston just 4 1/2 minutes into the game. The other goal came with about seven minutes left as Bunting dribbled through three Pekin defenders and scored on a point blank shot.

"We're haivng trouble with slow starts, especially on defense" Pekin coach Edgar Sandoval said. "We have to be ready to play as soon as that first whistle is blown."

Washington took 15 shots on goal and Pekin freshman Lindsay Coffey stopped 12 of them.